893.01 Manchuria/482
Note Sent by the Chinese Government to the Japanese Government on September 16, 1932, Protesting Against the Recognition of the So-called “Manchoukuo”68
“Since the night of September 18, 1931, when Japanese troops opened their premeditated attack on Shenyang (Mukden), the Japanese Government has by one act or another so aggravated the situation in the Three Eastern Provinces that not only have China’s sovereign rights been violated to an inestimable degree, but the principle of the sanctity of international treaties is shaken to its very foundation and the peace of the world is lamentably broken.
“By the resolution of September 30, 1931, of the Council of the League of Nations, the Japanese Government was called upon and itself undertook to refrain from any further aggravation of the situation and to withdraw its troops then occupying certain regions in the Provinces of Liaoning and Kirin into the railway zone. No sooner was this resolution adopted than Japanese troops further extended their operations by invading and occupying more territory in the North-Eastern Provinces, including Tsitsihar and other important cities in Heilungkiang. In November serious riots were caused to take place in Tientsin by persons connected with the Japanese concession in that City.
“On December 10, 1931, with Japan’s own concurrence, the Council [Page 263] of the League of Nations repeated its injunction against the aggravation of the situation and resolved that the withdrawal of Japanese troops within the railway zone should be effected as speedily as possible. This resolution received response from the Japanese Government in the form of engaging in more aggressive activities not only in the Three Eastern Provinces but in regions far away from the scene of the initial invasion. Japanese troops air-raided, attacked and finally seized Chinchow, Harbin and other strategic places in Manchuria. Towards the end of January, 1932, severe hostilities were opened in Shanghai by Japanese marines, later reinforced by several divisions of the Japanese Army, resulting in considerable loss of life and property.
“Having forcibly seized the whole of Manchuria, Japan contrived and established therein the puppet organization entitled Manchukuo with Pu Yi posing as its head, but with every vestige of power resting in the hands of the Japanese who are responsible to the Government at Tokyo. Then the seizure of the Chinese Railways and the Chinese revenues from the maritime customs, the salt gabelle, and other sources of interference with the Chinese postal administration, the slaughter and oppression of Chinese citizens, the wanton destruction of property and other innumerable unlawful acts, were systematically performed in the name of the so-called Manchukuo, but in reality by persons owing allegiance to or in control of the Japanese Government.
“At every stage of Japan’s military aggression in China, the Chinese Government did not fail to lodge a strong protest with the Japanese Government, calling its attention to the serious responsibility it took upon itself. But such protests were not only unheeded but were invariably answered by more daring and aggressive actions.
“Time and again the other nations of the world warned Japan against her policy of territorial aggrandisement by violence. Early in January, 1932, the American Government formally announced ‘that it cannot admit the legality of any situation de facto and that it does not intend to recognize any situation, treaty or agreement which may be brought about by means contrary to the Covenant and obligations of the Pact of Paris of August 27, 1928’. On February 16th, the twelve members of the Council of the League of Nations declared ‘that no infringement of the territorial integrity and no change in political independence of any member of the League brought about in disregard of Article X of the Covenant ought to be recognized as valid and de facto by members of the League of Nations’. On March 11th, the Assembly of the League of Nations unanimously resolved ‘that it is incumbent upon members of the League of Nations not to recognize any situation, treaty or agreement which may be brought about by means contrary to the Covenant of the League of Nations or to the [Page 264] Pact of Paris’, and ‘that it is contrary to the spirit of the Covenant that the settlement of the Sino-Japanese dispute should be solved under the stress of military pressure on the part of either party’.
“Deliberately ignoring the repeated advice and admonitions of the friendly powers, the decisions and injunctions of the League of Nations and the public opinion of mankind, the Japanese Government has now taken a headlong step of according official recognition to the puppet organization born of its own militarism and concluding with that organization what purports to be an agreement whereby Japan contemplates stationing troops in the Three Eastern Provinces at her free will and thus attempts to establish a virtual protectorate over the territory of these Provinces.
“Japan’s recognition of her puppet organization came at a time when the Commission of Inquiry, appointed by the League of Nations in pursuance of the Council’s resolution of December 10, 1931, which was accepted by Japan herself, had just completed its labors of investigation with the assistance of the representative of the Japanese Government and when the League is about to make its recommendations based on the results of the Commission’s work. Such an act on the part of Japan which makes her guilt increase in gravity amounts to an insulting challenge to the authority of the League of Nations whose judgment will necessarily be based on trust and justice.
“The responsibility of Japan involved in the relentless prosecution of
her policy of violence, murder and conquest is indeed unparalleled in
nature and extent in the history of international relations between
modern states. To enumerate the wrongs of the first magnitude of which
Japan is liable:
“The Chinese Government holds the Japanese Government to a strict accountability for all its aggressive acts beginning with the attack on Shenyang (Mukden) on September 18, 1931, and culminating in its recognition of the puppet organization on September 15, 1932, as well as for whatever consequences may arise therefrom. The Chinese Government further reserves to itself all rights permitted under the present circumstances by international law and treaties.”
- Copy transmitted to the Secretary of State by the Chinese Chargé under covering letter of September 19.↩